The D.C. area has a wealth of specialty running stores. In addition to carrying wide inventories and holding community events like group runs, their sales staffs offer technical expertise and years of experience with the sport.

Marine Corps and other fall marathons are still months away, but that means it’s time for the crucial long runs that will make up the majority of your marathon-specific training.

Here are a slew of great long run options in the D.C. area. There are plenty of out-and-back choices out there — the C&O Canal Towpath, the Capital Crescent…any trail, but what we offer here is a collection of loops, and a few point-to-point runs, that will give you a reason to get out of bed early on the weekend to get the hard training in.